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State auditor fires back after county clerk's news conference

State Auditor Adam Edelen is reacting to Tuesday's news conference by Jefferson County Clerk Bobbie Holsclaw.

"I was deeply disheartened that that side and her paid media flack decided to make it personal," said Edelen.

Larry Bisig, the head of a Louisville marketing firm, called Edelen's audit mean-spirited and possibly politically motivated.

The report found Holsclaw violated the law by giving employees year-end bonuses and in the way the office handled fundraising for charities.

The county attorney said further investigation is unwarranted, but during an exclusive interview with WLKY on Wednesday, Edelen insisted Holsclaw's office did cross the line.

"The law is clear. If you solicit dollars, they can't be co-mingled with tax dollars. If you give a Christmas bonus, you're not permitted to do that by law. And I don't blame them for raising all these other issues, but that's clearly a smokescreen," said Edelen.

Holsclaw is making minor changes, but Edelen said he now questions whether she is committed to putting the appropriate procedures in place to protect tax dollars.

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